Badgers Football - 2025 Season

[LUKE23]

If he is to be a Big Ten starter as a RS Freshman, where other teams are buying established guys that have 2+ years of good production, don't you think he'd have been ahead of Locke on the depth chart at least?

Maybe. I guess my rationale is that we know Locke is utterly terrible. I'm not going to really listen to any argument he isn't. He cannot make even basic throws and he panics in the pocket. Carter Smith will be a TRUE freshman, so I'd be surprised if Mettauer wasn't ahead of him just on experience. I don't know, I'm not going on a lot, just saying that the bar isn't very high to clear.

[Kerb Hohl]

If he is to be a Big Ten starter as a RS Freshman, where other teams are buying established guys that have 2+ years of good production, don't you think he'd have been ahead of Locke on the depth chart at least?

Maybe. I guess my rationale is that we know Locke is utterly terrible. I'm not going to really listen to any argument he isn't. He cannot make even basic throws and he panics in the pocket. Carter Smith will be a TRUE freshman, so I'd be surprised if Mettauer wasn't ahead of him just on experience. I don't know, I'm not going on a lot, just saying that the bar isn't very high to clear.

The starter for next year is going to be a transfer. It's not 2007. Almost every team in the playoffs or even comparable ones to Wisconsin that beat us either have a 5-star starter or rented an established QB that proved it elsewhere.

They're going to go out and get 1, maybe 2 veterans just like TVD and Mordecai - let's hope they stay healthy this time.

Guys of Mettauer's caliber have like a 90% bust rate and it's early, but it's trending to the 90% side. They can wait on him if he stays, but he certainly won't be ready to lead a Big Ten team 9 months from now vs somebody that is in the 10% elsewhere.

[ReasonablySober]

SMU, Boise State and Iowa State are starting sophomores. Arizona State, A&M, and South Carolina are starting freshman. None of those guys were five star, all-world recruits (otherwise I'd include someone like Nico Iamaleava at Tennessee).

Mettauer is going to have 20 months on campus by the time the start of the season rolls around. He was a relatively highly regarded prospect. Yea, obviously you'd like to have an experienced transfer come in and take over, but at some point (if he's still in the program) you gotta give the kid a shot. Given the schedule the Badgers have next year it probably won't matter if the guy they bring in is the #1 transfer on the market or a bottom five guy in the Big Ten. It's probably better to take our lumps with the guy with the high upside.

That said, who the hell knows what's going to happen between now and then. Maybe they've got the next OC lined up and Carter committed because he was promised the starting gig next year. I have no idea.

[Kerb Hohl]

If you guys wanna give me email or Venmo, I would make an actual cash wager that neither Smith nor Mettauer is the planned starting QB in August of next year.

I can't imagine "take our lumps" with the guy with high upside because whatever Fickell thinks he's developing he won't get to reap the rewards - because he will not be coaching the team in 2026.

Sure, there is a small percentage of these guys that pan out early - and there is a little bit of benefit if you're in the crappy ACC right now. I don't think we have one of those guys.

[ReasonablySober]

Fickell isn't getting fired after three seasons. It's not going to happen. It's insane to think that's even a possibility. The only way he's not here is if Ohio State comes calling.

[Kerb Hohl]

Fickell isn't getting fired after three seasons. It's not going to happen. It's insane to think that's even a possibility. The only way he's not here is if Ohio State comes calling.

If they win like 3 or 4 games next year I think he might get canned. The old farts and Barry Alvarez - who don't really understand the new era of college football - are already very mad. They're dumb. But they have/control a lot of donations and such.

Regardless, you have to be sure that Mettauer or Smith + a year of experience "taking your lumps" is going to become a B10 starting QB. I doubt Mettauer is at that stage if he couldn't surpass Locke this year.

[LUKE23]

If we look like we did this year next year I think Fickell is gone.

[humanrefutation]

If we look like this next year with that schedule, it'll be an improvement.

Still believe there is a non zero chance that OSU will come calling. The boosters there are PISSED about Ryan Day.

[ReasonablySober]

If we look like this next year with that schedule, it'll be an improvement.

Still believe there is a non zero chance that OSU will come calling. The boosters there are PISSED about Ryan Day.

I think Ohio State would make a run at Vrabel, but who knows if he wants to get in on NIL era college football.

But if I were them I'd just elevate Hartline.

[chonestown]

The old farts and Barry Alvarez - who don't really understand the new era of college football - are already very mad. They're dumb.

Barry Alvarez...dumb.

<Nods head so vigorously to require an early morning chiro visit>

[Kerb Hohl]

I can’t imagine OSU would come after Fickell if he goes 4-8 or 5-7 or something next year. I can’t imagine they would unless he gets 8 or more wins with that schedule.

[Kerb Hohl]

Moore is transferring so all 6 DBs from 2023.

[humanrefutation]

If we look like this next year with that schedule, it'll be an improvement.

Still believe there is a non zero chance that OSU will come calling. The boosters there are PISSED about Ryan Day.

I think Ohio State would make a run at Vrabel, but who knows if he wants to get in on NIL era college football.

But if I were them I'd just elevate Hartline.

I'd be surprised to see Vrabel go down to college. He never gave me that full-time recruiting vibe. I think he's still going to want an NFL gig. Perhaps the Cowboys if Belichick and Jerry can't make it work.

[Kerb Hohl]

If we look like this next year with that schedule, it'll be an improvement.

Still believe there is a non zero chance that OSU will come calling. The boosters there are PISSED about Ryan Day.

I think Ohio State would make a run at Vrabel, but who knows if he wants to get in on NIL era college football.

But if I were them I'd just elevate Hartline.

I'd be surprised to see Vrabel go down to college. He never gave me that full-time recruiting vibe. I think he's still going to want an NFL gig. Perhaps the Cowboys if Belichick and Jerry can't make it work.

Just was watching a clip from Pardon My Take that recirculated from a few months ago where he talks about annoying time-wasting recruiting stuff when he was coaching college. I think you’re right - probably not for him anymore.

[ReasonablySober]

College sports are easier to handle when you realize it's a sport of one year contracts. The pros but everyone is a free agent next season.

[Kerb Hohl]

College sports are easier to handle when you realize it's a sport of one year contracts. The pros but everyone is a free agent next season.

Not like he couldn’t outsource or whatever but he just doesn’t seem as interested.

Read on Twitter

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[MVP2110]

Wonder what's going on in the DB room. Going into the offseason that was probably the room I was least concerned with. Braedyn Moore specifically seemed to be in line to be a starter next year.

[Kerb Hohl]

I think (?) Colten Bartholomew is over on Buckyville and posted that a bunch of them wanted guaranteed starting time, got an answer of no, and left.

[midranger]

My “taking lumps” keeps being cited about the starting QB when I clearly was talking about the backup QB position, if the starter (presumably a transfer with new OC) goes down for a season ending injury.

We saw it unfold this year. If it happens, Locke certainly isn’t good enough to save the season. He sucks. The season is lost. In that scenario, just play the young guy, who will likely also suck, but “may” generate some positive momentum for the following year. Locke gives nothing.

I think a likely scenario is
1. transfer with OC
2. TVD hangs around to be vet backup/get paid a bit
3. Locke(s), Mettauer transfer
4. Maybe one more portal lotto ticket
5. Smith is third string

[MVP2110]

Happy NSD! I know Wisconsin Football is seemingly not in a great spot right now, but today is National Signing Day & Wisconsin is in line to have their highest rated class ever. The present might be rough but there is reason to still be optimistic about the future.